ji6 ng5 zai2二五仔
Jyutpingji6 ng5 zai2
Yaleyih ńgh jái
Definition
A traitor, snitch, informant, or mole.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Originating from the secret societies of the Qing Dynasty, the term refers to the numerical sum of the characters in the word for loyalty, which was used as a code. It carries a strong negative connotation of betrayal and is often used in the context of workplace gossip or criminal underworld dynamics. Calling someone this is a serious accusation that implies a breach of trust within a group.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He actually turned into a snitch and betrayed his own brothers.
Don't you dare be a snitch; if you leak it, we're in big trouble.
Related words
Common phrases
to act as a snitch
Common mistake
Avoid using this in professional or formal settings, as it is highly derogatory and aggressive. It is strictly a colloquial term for interpersonal betrayal and should not be used to describe someone who simply disagrees with a group opinion.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
